Category: Snooker

Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White must wait another year to claim a fourth World Seniors snooker title after losing 5-4 to Lee Walker in a tense final on Sunday night.

The six-time Crucible runner-up opened with a break of 64 to lead 1-0 in Sheffield before scrapping his way to a 4-2 advantage despite toiling to emulate his heavy scoring form that saw him reach the showpiece match earlier in the day.

White was restricted to only six points in the closing three frames as 46-year-old Walker – the coach and close friend of three-time world champion Mark Williams – followed up an earlier 72 with match-winning breaks of 79 and 83 to complete a deserved triumph that he described as his “career highlight”.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “There is a lot of pressure out there. I wanted to win, Jimmy wanted to win. It is a title playing at the Crucible.

“Everybody thinks it is easy when they see Ronnie (O’Sullivan), John Higgins and Mark Williams playing. They don’t miss anything, but this game is not that easy.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” added Walker, who enjoyed victories over defending champion David Lilley, Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry and Tony Knowles during his run to the title that sees him qualify for the Champion of Champions tournament next season.

“I think I’m too old to play two matches in one day!,” said White. “He played much better than me today. You can’t take anything away from Lee; his safety was excellent, he took his chances. I’m delighted for him.”

White had won the event in 2010, 2019 and 2020, but lost last year’s final 5-3 to Lilley.

Lilley looked on course for a repeat clash against White after breaks of 58, 57 and 50 saw him move 3-0 clear against Walker, but the former Gibraltar Open semi-finalist reeled off the next four frames including a closing knock of 73 to complete a great escape.

Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White must wait another year to claim a fourth World Seniors snooker title after losing 5-4 to Lee Walker in a tense final on Sunday night.

The six-time Crucible runner-up opened with a break of 64 to lead 1-0 in Sheffield before scrapping his way to a 4-2 advantage despite toiling to emulate his heavy scoring form that saw him reach the showpiece match earlier in the day.

White was restricted to only six points in the closing three frames as 46-year-old Walker – the coach and close friend of three-time world champion Mark Williams – followed up an earlier 72 with match-winning breaks of 79 and 83 to complete a deserved triumph that he described as his “career highlight”.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “There is a lot of pressure out there. I wanted to win, Jimmy wanted to win. It is a title playing at the Crucible.

“Everybody thinks it is easy when they see Ronnie (O’Sullivan), John Higgins and Mark Williams playing. They don’t miss anything, but this game is not that easy.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” added Walker, who enjoyed victories over defending champion David Lilley, Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry and Tony Knowles during his run to the title that sees him qualify for the Champion of Champions tournament next season.

“I think I’m too old to play two matches in one day!,” said White. “He played much better than me today. You can’t take anything away from Lee; his safety was excellent, he took his chances. I’m delighted for him.”

White had won the event in 2010, 2019 and 2020, but lost last year’s final 5-3 to Lilley.

Lilley looked on course for a repeat clash against White after breaks of 58, 57 and 50 saw him move 3-0 clear against Walker, but the former Gibraltar Open semi-finalist reeled off the next four frames including a closing knock of 73 to complete a great escape.

Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White hit a sparkling break of 132 on his way to a 4-0 whitewash of Peter Lines in the World Seniors Championship semi-finals in Sheffield.

The six-time Crucible finalist will face defending champion David Lilley or Lee Walker in Sunday evening’s best-of-nine frame final (7pm BST).

“I’m delighted with that,” said Eurosport analyst White, who is chasing a record fourth victory at the event.

“It is a big event for me. If I win it, it leads to other things. I get in the Champion of Champions so it would be great to win this World Championship tonight.

“This is a great place when you are playing well. There is nothing like it, but when you are struggling it is a long walk to the table.

“I’m hitting the ball good. I’ve been practising really hard and it is starting to pay off.”

White has won the event in 2010, 2019 and 2020, but lost last year’s final 5-3 to Lilley.

Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White hit a sparkling break of 132 on his way to a 4-0 whitewash of Peter Lines in the World Seniors Championship semi-finals in Sheffield.

The six-time Crucible finalist will face Lee Walker in Sunday evening’s best-of-nine frame final (7pm BST) after the Welshman enjoyed a 4-3 win over defending champion David Lilley from 3-0 behind.

“I’m delighted with that,” said Eurosport analyst White, who is chasing a record fourth victory at the event.

“It is a big event for me. If I win it, it leads to other things. I get in the Champion of Champions so it would be great to win this World Championship tonight.

“This is a great place when you are playing well. There is nothing like it, but when you are struggling it is a long walk to the table.

“I’m hitting the ball good. I’ve been practising really hard and it is starting to pay off.”

White has won the event in 2010, 2019 and 2020, but lost last year’s final 5-3 to Lilley.

Lilley looked on course for a repeat clash against White after breaks of 58, 57 and 50 saw him move 3-0 clear, but former Gibraltar Open semi-finalist Walker reeled off the next four frames including a closing knock of 73 to complete the victory.